Hideko Alice Horii

Hideko "Alice" Horii (Mizuguchi) Was born on September 4, 1932 in Gardena, California to parents Masaru Mizuguchi and Yoshie Tanaka. She was a proud older sister to Aiko Hirashiki and half-brother, Ted Tanaka.

Hideko took her seat in Heaven on May 2, 2020 in Brighton, Colorado at the age of 96 years old. She is preceded in death by her father, Masaru Mizuguchi and mother, Yoshie Tanaka, as well as her husband of 57 years, Sumiji Horii, and her son Ronald Horii.

Hideko was may things to many people; a wife to Sumiji, a mother to Norman (Joan) Horii, Ronnie (Chris) Horii, Bruce (Donna) Horii and Linda (Tom) Kline. Hideko loved her children very much and did whatever she could to give them the best life possible, because she knew that is what they deserved.

She was also a grandmother and friend to her grandchildren: Joel (Heather) Horii, Denny (Julie) Kline, Stephanie (Stephen) Williams, Lindsay (LeRoy) Auker, Jessica Horii and Tyler Horii who often referred to her as "G-Ma" or "Little-G." She was a great-grandmother or "GG-Ma" and a great source of comfort to her great-grandchildren, Jayden and Madison Horii, Hideo and Hiro Kline, Hannah Williams and Coy Auker.

Hideko lived a long and full life but it was not without its own struggles and heartbreak. Hideko was a young girl when her father passed away and she relocated to Japan, where she was separated from her mother and sister. She was a young woman when she traveled back to America, and shortly after found herself in the midst of World War II and the Japanese Internment.

However, Hideko never allowed challenging or unfair circumstances to get the best of her. Rather, she would harness all of her strength and determination, and regardless of what she was up against, time after time, she persevered. She learned from her experiences, and she grew stronger. To simply say that she was strong would be a vast understatement. Yes, she was strong but she was also a fighter and survivor - she was an incredible human being. She gifted all of these amazing traits, as well as her feisty spirit to each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will carry and pass on her legacy to their children. Though her body is now at rest, her spirit will live on forever.

Although being the best wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother is a feat in itself, Hideko was much more than that. She was a master seamstress working for Wesco Fabrics and Gerry Outdoor Clothing and she also spent time working for United Airlines. No matter what she did, Hideko always put her all into it and exceeded expectations.

Hideko worked hard, but she also know how to have a good time. She often spent her free time utilizing her creativity and thoughtful heart to craft gifts for her family and her friends through a variety of mediums - knitting, crocheting, embroidery and origami, to name a few. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed gambling, as well as the occasional margarita, provided it was prepared the right way. She loved traveling to visit out of state loved ones, or taking trips and cruises with her friends. She enjoyed dancing, as well as hosting dinners for her family. She may not have expressed her emotions verbally, but Hideko found ways to express her love through her actions.

Hideko has always been an unforgettable, one of a kind person; her independence, resolve and fighting spirit is an inspiration to all who were blessed enough to know her personally, as well as to those who had just met her. She is going to be extremely missed by those us that she has left behind, but we know that we will see her again one day, and find comfort in knowing that she is finally reunited with so many people that she has had to miss for far too long.

She no longer has to fight, survive or persevere, her hard work is finally done. For Hideko, now is the time to rest, for reunion and for overwhelming joy.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Please make contributions in Hideko's name to Brighton United Methodist Church at http://brightonunitedmethodistchurch.com/